Robert Chisholm

[Fisheries and Oceans, June 1st, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, Conservatives are simply failing Atlantic Canadians. Now they are undermining our livelihood with their attack on fisheries protection.

Former fisheries ministers, including two Conservatives, are condemning the government's proposals. How do the Conservatives respond? They accuse former minister Siddon of not reading the bill. Wrong again. He not only read the bill, he renamed some of these reckless clauses. Clause 147 is the “let them off lightly” clause. Clause 150 is the “minister cops out” clause.

Why is the government ramming through changes that will harm our fisheries and hurt our coastal communities?

[Atlantic Economy, June 1st, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, what we know is the Conservatives' changes to EI are an attack on seasonal workers and they are meant to drive down workers' wages.

The government's attack on coastal communities continues. It is so out of touch that now we see bonuses being handed out to ACOA executives while that agency cancels support for community economic development. ACOA has already cut dozens of staff and programs meant to help Atlantic communities.

How can the minister be so tone deaf to the interests of Atlantic Canadians? Why will he not stand up for coastal communities?

[Fisheries and Oceans, May 31st, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the fact that the member supports what Mr. Siddon has to say. It is clear that the Conservatives would dismantle fish habitat protections and they would sell out our fisheries for short-term corporate profits. Canadians are not buying the minister's claim that this is all about farmers' ditches.

Neither is former minister Siddon, who called what they are doing “a shallow...phony excuse for change”, so I ask the minister to drop the charade, accept the advice from the Conservative predecessor, split the bill and do the right—

[Fisheries and Oceans, May 31st, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, last night, at committee, former Conservative fisheries minister Siddon warned us that the Trojan budget bill, “makes a Swiss cheese out of the federal Fisheries Act” because today's Conservatives are abandoning their constitutional duties to protect our fish and fish habitat.

Mr. Siddon has this simple challenge for the minister. Will the minister stand to say, “I understand what my job entails and I am here to look after fish, full stop”?

[Business of Supply, May 31st, 2012]

Ask him about the blueberry pickers.

[Business of Supply, May 31st, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I want to ask my colleague from St. John's South—Mount Pearl this question. We understand that the government is heading down the road of getting rid of the owner-operator fleet separation policy that now exists, which enables small owner-operator fishermen to work in communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador and throughout Atlantic Canada. It is going to get rid of that policy.

Does the member not see that the drive to cut EI benefits in those same communities that support seasonal fishermen is not part of the plan of the Conservative government to turn over the fishery to corporate Canada and drive working people out of Newfoundland and Labrador and coastal Canada?

[Fisheries and Oceans, May 30th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, even former Conservative fisheries ministers disagreed with the government's devious and scary changes to the Fisheries Act. It will be giving the green light to projects that pollute our waterways, destroy our fish habitat and devastate our coastal communities, all the while getting rid of scientists and researchers who help ensure sustainable management of these resources.

When will the Conservatives stop playing Russian roulette with the fisheries and coastal communities?

[Fisheries and Oceans, May 30th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, out of work Canadians are learning the truth about the Conservatives. They may have paid into EI their whole working careers but, if they have claimed EI more than once, the Conservatives are saying that it is their fault.

The Conservatives' attack on Atlantic Canada continues. The Conservatives are closing three DFO offices in Nova Scotia just days after they gutted the Centre for Offshore Oil, Gas and Energy Research.

Is there no Conservative over there willing to stand up for Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada?

[Continuation and Resumption of Rail Service Operations Legislation, May 29th, 2012]

Madam Speaker, what does the Leader of the Opposition think it says about a government that is so prepared to take away the rights of working people, the rights of senior citizens, the rights of people who want a protected and clean environment, the rights of people who want a protected and sustainable fishery? What does he think it says about a government that is prepared to trample all Canadians' rights?

[Fisheries and Oceans, May 29th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, sweeping cuts to fisheries will have a serious impact on the health of our waters, our fisheries and our coastal communities.

In a rare showing of non-partisanship, four former fisheries ministers have come together to criticize Conservative changes to the Fisheries Act. Tom Siddon, fisheries minister under Brian Mulroney, called the changes “devious and scary” and accused the Conservatives of gutting the Fisheries Act.

When will the fisheries minister recognize that this is a reckless road he is going down and stand up and defend coastal communities?